114 
HUDLESTON : EXCURSION. 
ing- strips of Trias and Permian on the east, almost the whole of 
Claro is on Millstone Grit, in parts covered by Drift. The surface 
ranges from 100 feet to 2,200 feet above sea level, and contains a 
considerable proportion of indifferent land, some of which, how- 
ever, forms the best g-rouse ground in the county. There are wide 
upland plateaux with valleys of moderate slope : the hills never 
attain to the dignity of a peak, the most salient features being 
crags of gritstone, such as Almias Cliff (Kinder Grit), Brimham 
Rocks (Third Grit), and the rocking stones on Roggan Moor so 
celebrated in the annals of shooting. The Millstone Grits of this 
district contain waters of remarkable purity, and the valley of the 
Washburn is now the storehouse for Leeds, just as Loch Katrine 
is for Glasgow. 
On reaching the valley of the Wharfe at Bolton a different 
style of country begins to appear, though Bolton may be regarded 
as partaking of the Millstone Grit scenery of Claro, and of the 
Carboniferous Limestone scenery of Craven ; where the hills are 
usually tabular, but with a peaked termination in places. The 
weathering of the Carboniferous Limestone produced long scaurs 
or cliffs, such as those at Malham, Gordale, and Kilnsea. The 
climate being wet and the soil calcareous. Craven is given over 
almost wholly to grass — some of the very best and most feeding 
pasturage in England. Skipton is the principal town, and has 
always been regarded as its capital.* 
* It used to be said that a squiiTel could go from Knaresborough Castle 
to Skipton Castle without once touching the gi'ound. Those were the days 
when Knaresborough Forest used to be covered with silva minuta" most of 
which has long since disappeared. 
Knaresborough was about as far south as the marauding Scots ever got in 
their numerous forays into the North of England. Dui'ing the dis-organization 
which succeeded the battle of Bannockburn their army ravaged the country up 
to the very gates of York, (a.d. 1319). The people of Ripon paid black-mail 
and were let off. The men of Knaresborough, a royal burgh, stood the risk of 
battle, and were defeated. Part of the inhabitants took to the church tower, 
where the Scots tried to burn them alive ; the marks of the fire are said to be 
still visible. The Scots returned home by way of Skipton, which was also 
